Question: Is a state when a person receives something while in a state of descent called “punishment”? It is a state in which nothing changes. How is this to be understood?

Answer: You are asking about a state where a person does not experience an alternation between states of ascents and falls for a long time.

That fact that he does not receive descents is the punishment. “Does not sin” means that he does not receive additional parts of Adam HaRishon after the transgression.

In other words, he is not brought to a point where he can correct something. This is punishment, for he is not given bad states.

Punishment is not that he is brought into bad states, but that he is not given bad states.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/25/26, Rabash, “When a Person Knows What Is Fear of the Creator”

Comment: Everything we read every day sounds like the same text.

My Response: It is written, “Israel’s prayers have been exhausted,” “David’s prayers have come to an end.” There is no more strength! This stems either from great despair or from a desire for greater adhesion.

Comment: To one degree or another, it all seems the same. We talk about the same thing all the time.

My Response: You see, I have been listening to this for 25 years. I have been talking about it for 20 years, and every time I find something new. You are also being renewed. Nothing changes from the outside. You change; you discern something new. That is what we are talking about.

Otherwise, what else can we talk about when everything can be summed up in one line: “Taste and see that the Creator is good.” There is nothing more to add!
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 7/30/26, Rabash, “What Does It Mean that Oil Is Called ‘Good Deeds’ in the Work?”

What are the categories of above knowledge, within knowledge, and below knowledge? We are implanted with the desire to receive, into which we receive for ourselves. In accordance with this, as it is said, “a judge has nothing but what his eyes see.” I act according to my nature, my reason, and my knowledge.

This is called acting in accordance with knowledge. Knowledge and reason are the light of Hochma (wisdom) or some of its illumination, which spreads in the Kelim (vessels) of reception. As the light spreads into these Kelim, I receive knowledge about my state.

Moreover, from this I derive the pleasure itself and the awareness of this enjoyment. This is what is called “in the mind and in the heart.” Simple reception within the mind and in the heart is known as a person’s knowledge (Daat).

Why do they say “his knowledge”? Because this is the highest form of reception. This is man’s awareness, “the person within the person,”  where I operate according to my own Kelim and what I receive is what I have. I feel it, see it, understand it, and rely on it. This is the nature of the “stony heart,” the nature of our matter, the desire to receive.

I can be in connection with the Creator and rise above my “I,” only if I acquire the Kelim of Binah. As we study, the worlds of BYA (Beria, Yetzira, and Assiya) are parts of GE(Galgalta and Enaim) that fell into AHP (Awzen, Hotem, Peh) after the transgression. Within these broken parts of GE that fell into AHP, light can spread, but not in AHP itself, inside which they are located.

Imagine dough containing chocolate chips. Suppose the chocolate chips are the parts of GE inside the dough itself, which is called AHP. Light can spread only inside these fragments of GE, and if they are correctly organized among themselves, they collectively form the system of the worlds of BYA is built.

The worlds of BYA are GE  situated inside the mass of AHP. But these GE are connected among themselves, and not connected to the mass of AHP itself. They have protection from AHP so that it does not hinder them.

Adam HaRishon, according to his nature, is AHP; unless he receives GE within himself, he has no connection with the Creator. The Creator is perceived and light spreads only in GE. Light cannot spread in the vessels of reception.

Therefore, a person who works not that “lump of dough” known as AHP, but rather within the GE embedded within it as a result of the transgression of Adam HaRishon, is said to be working in faith above knowledge (above his own knowledge, understanding, and desire). This is because his knowledge, reason, and desires are the “dough” and not the chocolate chips within it.

Why “in faith”? Because these are parts of Binah, GE, vessels of bestowal. “Above knowledge” means that he suppresses and steps over AHP, makes a restriction upon it, and effectively transfers himself, his sensation and heart, into these GE, where he dwells. This is what is meant by working in faith above knowledge.

What can help a person in such work? Love and awe. They help him hold on to the vessels of bestowal rather than succumbing to the vessels of reception, for AHP exerts a powerful pull on him.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/25/26, Rabash, “When a Person Knows What Is Fear of the Creator”

Question: Why should the group supply me with a good mood?

Answer: Parallel to the greatness of the Creator, you must receive an uplifted spirit from the group. Without an uplifted mood, greatness is not greatness.

One could say that where the Creator is hidden, the group must perform His function. In other words, the Creator has hidden Himself, but in His place, He has given you the group. Why? Because you cannot connect with Him except for the sake of bestowal. But with the group you can play however you wish. Yet true play can also be only for the sake of bestowal. That is, in this world, in your egoistic state, you have the opportunity to perform spiritual work.

The problem with our group is that we do not concern ourselves with building the group. One must begin with this.

If I want the group to influence me and build me, then I must ensure that it is strong, that it possess the correct intention, that it operates on the right “frequency,” that it maintains an uplifted mood, and that it embodies everything that I wish to receive from it.

For it to possess these qualities, I must provide them to it. Where can I get what I give to it? Anyone can provide this! Anyone can do it, provided it is not for oneself, but for someone else.

It is just like during a lecture. You arrive, and your students think: “What a righteous one! How corrected he is!” Why? Because you pour out upon them everything that you have read and even what you haven’t. You work on their desire to receive, and give them a level of upliftment that you do not possess yourself.

Sometimes you come depressed, but you begin to speak, and you ignite yourself. You see that when you want to give to the group, your own state does not matter.

You can uplift people, truly inspire them, with your words, even those that might not seem to come straight from the heart. A person listening to you will think that this came to him from above, directly from the prophet Elijah. You must do the same thing deliberately and intentionally with your group, so that it becomes mutual.

You cannot imagine what forces you will be able to receive! You will not be able to sleep! It will be like those first days when you encountered the idea of Kabbalah. There are such days of ascent on the holidays of Sukkot or Passover when that uplifted spirit stays with you around the clock. You will see that this is how you will live.

Whether you want it to or not, your friends will act upon you in this way. However, the problem is that they do not yet wish to influence you. They do not yet understand that this is the crucial point.

You will feel that you are living and “burning” every moment. Where does come from within you and in what form? A whole group is sitting there and working, and you are with them for hours. When you are outside looking in, you often hear that this is important, that this is something special, and you yourself “catch fire.” What else is there to stir such excitement? This is what spirituality is about. 
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/24/26, Rabash, “Who Testifies to a Person”